Gambling motivation model for older women addicted and not addicted to gambling – a qualitative study

Abstract

Objectives: This article presents the results of a study conducted on older women who have retired from work and who gamble regularly. The aim of the study was an in-depth analysis of the motivation to gamble in older professional inactive women addicted and not addicted to gambling.

Method: In-depth interviews were conducted with 34 women aged 55+ years. Motivation factors for gambling among women addicted to gambling (n = 8) and those not addicted to gambling (n = 26) were subjected to in-depth thematic analysis of the content of the interviews.

Results: Five major categories were distinguished: sensations, money, activity, socialisation and escape. The most important factors for the women who were not addicted to gambling were sensations and money, followed by activity and socialisation. Women addicted to gambling, on the other hand, were mostly motivated by sensations, escape and socialisation.

Conclusions: The results show the need for an in-depth analysis of the motivational factors in this group. Models built on the basis of adults are not reflected in older women. For example, the financial motive, typical of addicted gamblers, is dominant among non-addicted female seniors. Qualitative analysis helps to understand this specificity.

Keywords:

• Older women
• gambling
• motivation

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the participants in the study for sharing their experiences, and Maria Chuchra for their assistance in carrying out the studies.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Ministry of Health, Fund for solving gambling problems (grant number 1/HMK/2017).